No Excuses

Everyone should read the bible at least once in their lifetime.  Unfortunately most people make up excuses to not read it.  Most excuses are easily refutable.

The bible ought to be read as it is immensely historical.  It is firmly placed in the history of the world.  So much more than any other book on which a faith is based.  It is the best-selling book of all time and will continue to be so.  It’s worthy of a look in.  It also contains a variety of literature that are good for study.

But as for some of the common excuses

Not enough time

Daily reading could take a maximum of 20 minutes.  Even less if you take up the 25 words reading challenge from the Bible Society.

Too long

There are a lot of pages.  This was a reason that held me back as well.  But chapters and verses mean you can start and stop wherever you like.  It may take a long time but that’s ok.

Too boring

There are some that are monotonous, but they are in there for a reason.  Perseverance through the boring parts will build character.  Not all of life is exciting either.  Of course there are plenty of exciting and interesting sections as well.

Don’t understand

Different versions of the bible mean that there will be one that suits you.  Although no matter what version you attain there will be a level of not understanding.  That’s ok too as it gives you are chance to ask questions of that Christian friend.  One should not expect to understand every aspect of such a long book in one reading.  Get what you can, ask questions and then read it again.

Don’t want to

This could be the real reason people don’t read it.  That’s because they don’t want to  respond to the revelation of Jesus through the bible.  Don’t keep running away and hiding from Jesus.

Not Disgraced

Liberal Senator, Cory Bernadi, asked a valid question, “There are even some creepy people out there who say that it’s ok to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals.  Will that be a future step?”

Labor Senator, Helen Polley, made a valid comment, “[Same sex marriage could] create a stolen generation by putting adult desires above the needs of children.”

Both were discussing the legislation before them regarding amending the Marriage Act.

But because they didn’t conform with the vocal minority these people are now “disgraced” according to the Sun Herald (23^rd September).

Bernadi has since had to resign, as parliamentary secretary for no good reason other than it was politically easier to do so rather than defend him.  Haven’t heard anything about discipline for Polley.  Surely if she’s “disgraced” as well then there ought to be similar ramifications.

They don’t deserve their label, and those dishing it out don’t have the right to spew it out.  Having an opinion that is not shared by the noisemakers doesn’t mean the label fits.

Blowing False Trumpet

Greens member of the NSW Legislative Council, David Shoebridge, vented his feelings about the competitive unionism in a recent mass email.  He feels he has saved NSW from a savage beast.  I feel he may have a tendency to exaggerate.

Barry O’Farrell introduced legislation for competitive unionism.  In essence it gives the workers the ability to choose their own union representation.  Shoebridge has labelled this an “attack on working people”.  It’s actually giving workers a freedom they have never had.  Shoebridge feels such legislation will “undermine union solidarity”.  Yet it’s unions that are undermining themselves with their corruption, grooming of Labor MP’s, selfishness, self-righteousness and arrogance.

According to Shoebridge, enterprise bargaining agreements will be a “free for all” as unions go “head to head” against employers.  But if unions actually had the best interests of their members at heart then surely they would be able to work together.  So much member dissatisfaction has stemmed from unions forgetting their actual job and purpose for existing.  Instead of positioning for Labor pre selection they should have been looking after their members’ interests.  If they had done that all along I doubt whether this legislation would have been introduced to parliament.

Shoebridge attacks O’Farrell for reducing the coverage for workers compensation.  What he neglects to mention is that the coverage for workers compensation was far too broad and included much that was unnecessary.  Shoebridge would make out that all of what used to be included was an entitlement when it is nothing but a privilege.  One the state govt can no longer afford due to left wing reckless spending.

According to Shoebridge free market thinkers are blind, dictatorial and divisive.  This is despite much evidence existing that suggests the free market is a very efficient way of improving people’s circumstances.  But Shoebridge doesn’t want you to think for yourself.  He’s more intelligent than you, according to him.  He doesn’t want you choosing your own union.  According to him we don’t know what is best for us. We are apparently lucky to have Greens parliamentarians at various levels of government to tell us what is best for us.

Where do they get off claiming the moral high ground when all they want to do is control our lives and tell us how we ought to be living it.  If anyone is blind it is the left, as they don’t ever see the ramifications of their plans.  They are too idealistic that reality need not enter their thinking.

David Shoebridge, on behalf of the Greens, is claiming to have been part of a successful campaign to amend O’Farrell’s bill to only apply to Paramedics and junior doctors.  Reality is that he has affected a potentially very productive bill.

Shoebridge talks ad nauseum about ‘rights’ of workers, yet he is robbing workers of a very important freedom.  He needs to get out of workers lives, as only we know what is best for us.  David Shoebridge has no idea.

No Freebies

The Project last week featured a story on “Freemium” apps on smartphones and tablets.  Freemium combines the words Free and Premium.  They are so called because they are free to download but to get the most out of the app you have to purchase further items at a premium price.

They are quite a money winner as these apps are usually very addictive and easy to play.  Hence they are very appealing to children.

The panel mentioned examples where children have racked up hundreds or thousands of dollars on their parent’s credit cards after playing these games.  The panel asked their guest how to best avoid this predicament.

There were valid solutions given such as using gift cards instead of credit cards and changing settings to require a password each time a purchase is requested.

I was surprised that no one suggested this: ‘not letting your smartphones or tablets into the hands of your children’.  How about setting some boundaries and saying no to some things?  Why is it considered a given that we will hand our technology indiscriminately to our children?  Is it also considered a given that young children will have their own smartphone or tablet?  I can’t see why this should be.  Parents shouldn’t rely on them as entertainment for their children.

Parents need to grow a backbone and set some rules regarding these devices, then enforce.  It will save a lot of potential problems.

Popcorn Lungs

A random piece of ridiculousness was witnessed on an American breakfast program.  It was the ultimate display of refusing to take responsibility for ones actions.

A man engorged himself on microwave popcorn day after day, year after year.  He ate so much popcorn that he developed a new lung condition nicknamed “popcorn lung”.  It will eventually take his life.

Instead of accepting his fate as completely his own doing he did what some Americans seem to do best, he sued the manufacturer and the retailer.

Apparently it was the manufacturer and retailer’s responsibility to inform this man that eating that much microwave popcorn was not a good idea.  The way the world is these days common sense wasn’t as common as it should have been and he won a massive $7million.

The man is declaring that he will give most to charity.  This does not make him a generous man as he has robbed two businesses of money that belongs to them.

Such behaviour needs to be declared abhorrent whenever it appears.  It needs to be stamped out of society.  Responsibility needs to be taken for your own choices.

Not About The Chocolate

Pro Palestine groups recently marched on a Max Brenner outlet in Parramatta in order to promote their cause.  What doesn’t make sense to most would be their choice of protest venue.

Max Brenner is a fine chocolate house.  His products are amazing.  So what do they have against it?

Is it their products?  Too sweet perhaps?  Too rich?

Perhaps their mugs?  They are odd shapes and sizes.

No, they don’t like Max Brenner because their parent company provides chocolate to the Israeli defence forces.  That’s where their actual protest is directed.  Then why not get on the first flight to the Middle East and join the Palestinian forces.  Surely a much more effective form of venting ones disgust at a perceived enemy.

I would not expect them to do such a thing, as they are too cowardly.  Their alternate form of protest suits this trait well.  Plus they are just plain wrong about their cause.  They will use anything they can to insult Israel.  They abhor its existence, for no particular reason, and will do whatever it takes to eradicate its people.

Daily Bible

It’s always an achievement to read the bible in full.  I recommend everyone do it at least once.  That’s regardless of whatever belief system you follow.  I had done it once using the easy to read “The Message” version of the bible.  Now I’ve finished it again using the ‘Daily Bible’ in NIV.

Firstly some stats.  It took me approximately 15 months to complete from 8^th June 2011 to 19^th September 2012.  This equates to 470 days.  It was read in 278 sessions with an average of 5 pages and 19 minutes per session.  Thanks to the ‘Read More” app of iPhone for statistics and extra motivation to keep reading.

The ‘Daily Bible’ has chunks of around 3 – 4 pages with duel columns that take about 10 – 20 minutes to read.  It is organised to have an Old Testament portion, New Testament portion and a Psalm or Proverb portion per day.

What I liked about the format was accomplishing a book more frequently.  For example while reading a long new testament book you will be finishing a shorter old testament book, or vice versa.  Also if one portion was quite droll then the other portion was usually very interesting.  Don’t forget as well that reading a small chunk of the bible every day is a good habit to forge.

I was surprised at how small the daily chunks were.  I’m not a fast reader and most days only took 10 mins to read.  Meaning that sometimes I read multiple days in one hit.  Sometimes you just have to keep reading while you have the energy. 

Each day was dated, intended for you to read every day starting January 1^st and finishing December 31^st.  I didn’t stick to this however.  I knew my shiftwork would make that impossible.  But I’m rather chuffed at 15 months.

Some of the ordering of the Old Testament was interesting.  It seems that they attempted to be somewhat chronological while breaking up the longer books with shorter books.

Post reading ‘The Message’ I asked, “What next?”  My answer then was to read it in this different format.  So now this effort is completed and I have to ask it again.  As reading the bible is not a once off read and then put it on the shelf to gather dust.

Although as I’m doing some study through Moore College I think I’ll give the daily reading a break and catch up on other books I’ve been wanting to reading.  After study is completed I’m keen to try out Max Lucado’s bible adaptation, ‘The Story’.